The Ladder of Subtlety

What it is and how we can use it to deepen a spiritual practice.

The Ladder of subtlety is one of the topics covered in my Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training and very much shows a top down approach from how Divine Consciousness, God, Supreme Being or whatever you would like to call it comes to be physically manifest on Earth.

At the top of the ladder is an indescribable power, pure force and consciousness. Some may call it God, others may call it Divine Consciousness. There is nothing here but being, from here begins the process of form. It starts with the Naad, the vibration from which all things are created, from vibration also comes sound. It is said that the universe makes a sound. Everything in the universe vibrates, down to the smallest atom, the only thing that separates ice from water to steam is the speed the molecules vibrate at.

So now we have entered into the realms of potential creation and polarising forces. By dividing into Shakti and Shiva energy we encounter divine feminine and divine masculine, movement and stillness, creation and destruction.

By dividing into Shakti and Shiva energy we encounter divine feminine and divine masculine, movement and stillness, creation and destruction.

After dividing into two polarising forces, we continue to enter other levels of separateness known as Tattvas, these include the natural elements of earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. There are 31 Tattvas and 5 Restrictions, these are: power, knowledge, time, space and desire. These 5 Restrictions are also known as Maya, the realm of illusions. In reality there is no time, time is an illusion, sometimes a minute can feel like a second and sometimes an hour. This stage is called Purusha or Universal Consciousness. We are not in the realms of pure potential now, we have entered the actual potential of Earthly realms.

The next rung on the ladder is Prakriti and the Gunas. These are the qualities that make up Universal Nature; Tamas (heavy and dull), Rajas (force and will) and Sattva (grace and ease). All things in the universe contain these properties, from mind, to humans to something like a rock. Each Guna has its own type of 'mind', for example Tamas is linked to Manas, the sensory mind, the aspect which is least subtle, most physical and basic. Rajas is linked to Ahangkar or our Ego, and Sattva is linked to Buddhi which is our inner wisdom. These 3 minds together are called Chitta or Universal Mind. Now we are entering the realm of Earthly existence.

These 3 minds together are called Chitta or Universal Mind. Now we are entering the realm of Earthly existence.

From Tamas and Manas, the sensory mind, comes our physical sense. Sight, touch, taste, hearing and smell. These are dense and the most physical. But they still cannot be truly relied upon. For example I might see pillar box red whereas you might see pinky red or orangey red. From Rajas and Ahangkhar (ego) we have emotions. Rajas is associated with movement and this is reflected in the ups, downs and flows of our feelings. Lastly we have Sattva and Buddhi (internal wisdom), this manifests as matter. It might seem odd seeing how Sattva and Buddhi are the most subtle but manifest in something so tangible as matter, but I think it is because unlike our sense which can be influenced or changeable, Matter is unchangeable. 2 parts of hydrogen and 1 part oxygen will always make water, whether it is fluid, solid or gas. Matter is almost an irrefutable truth.

So that is how Infinite becomes Finite, but how can we use this in our spiritual evolution?

First we have to start at the bottom, we have to understand the aspects of our reality. Firstly understand that our senses are personal, others may not see, hear or taste the way you do. This makes no one right or wrong but gives you an understanding and appreciation for others, by accepting your emotions are fluid and changing helps to stop them from controlling you. From this place of neutrality we can encounter the Universal Mind (Chitta) to make lasting changes, bring ourselves to further balance and connect to Universal Consciousness. By acknowledging we are a blend of animalistic tendencies and desires and driven by Ego but we do have the ability to tap into inner wisdom, our true Guru, the one we tune into with Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo.

By acknowledging we are a blend of animalistic tendencies and desires and driven by Ego but we do have the ability to tap into inner wisdom

If we can accept this, but as a conscious being choose to overcome this we live in the beauty, grace and peace of Sattva. Ascending beyond this point is difficult as we would have to transcend past Maya into realms of non existence, but we can work on dualistic ideas to bring further balance. There is a lot of talk after the Piscean Age about tapping into the Divine Feminine after oppression by the male energy of the previous age, however focus on Divine Feminine without acknowledging the Divine Masculine will lead to imbalance. Kundalini Yoga is the yoga of the householder because it gives you esoteric wisdom but instead of retreating into solitude up a mountain, you take it into the world. Where some would take the stillness of meditation to an extreme, Kundalini Yoga gives the balance of movement. In the cycle of reincarnation there can be no rebirth with death and vice-versa. Duality is part of existence and therefore we must seek balance or else we risk descending back down the ladder, mainly lopsided and focused too much in one area.

Duality is part of existence and therefore we must seek balance or else we risk descending back down the ladder

Lastly we can access the Naad through Shabd Guru and mantra. We know that mantra taps into the divine sound currents through the sacred, poetic language of Gurmukhi and when done continuously and with intention we can actually affect real change on this plane. How? By working its way back down the Ladder of Subtlety to the realm of manifestation.